William f



W. F. BRIEN AND M. H. WHITTAKER.

ROUTE AND 511111011 mmc/mw@ MEANS,

APPLICATION YILED NW2! 1916, r

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n Gas. ST/man W.v f. BR|EN' AND H. WHHTAKER. ROUTE AND STATION INDICATING MEANS APPLICAUON FILED JAN. 21,19l8.

. v Patented July 2;), 1919.

Fig. 5

MILIS FII HOUR il L 9 8 d y lNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROUTE AND STATION INDICATING- MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application ed January 21, 1918. Serial No. 212,968.

T o all Iwhom t may concern:

Be it known that we, YiLLlAM F. BRIEN and MARVIN H. fi-HTTAKER, citizens of the linited States, and residents of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of .Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Route and Station Indicating Means; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to'lilte parts. i,

This invention relates to route and station indicating means and.' one of the' features of the invention is the provision of a tape having printed instructions thereon for directing the course of travel, such tape having two columns for giving instructions, one column giving instructions while traveling from one point to another, and the other column giving instructions when traveling on the return trip, or from the second destination to the original starting point.

further feature of the linvention is means controlled by the operation of the usual or any preferred form of speedometer for moving the tape lengthwise to successively exhibit the different directions through an observation opening in the case containing the tape.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means lfor reversing the rotation of the tape winding mechanism without disturbing the rotation of the parts of the driving means. A further feature of the invention is the provision of a casing having a hinged portion -to which the tape operating mechanism is attached so that when the hinged portion is swung to open position, free access may hev had for changing the tape or for .anv other purposes.

A further feature o the invention is the provision of means for sounding an alarm to indicate the approach to certain points, such as villages, railroads, turns and lthe like, whereby it will not be necessary for the driver or operator to continually watch the. tape. further featnreof the invention is the provision of means for causing the alarm to sound a predetermined distance .before such points are reached, and a'further feature of the invention is the provision of means in connection with the tape reversing mccliainism for causing the alarm mechanism to coperate with that side of the tape being used to indicate the route o f travel.

Other objects and advantages will be l hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specifications.

. The nature of the invention'will be more fully understood from the accompanying drawings, description and claims:

Figure l is a front elevation of the route indicating device ready to be applied t0 use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the hinged portion of the casing in open position. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the route indicating tape. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device showing a portion of the front cover broken away and parts thereof in section. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view as seen on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 lis a detail sectional view seen on line 7*? of Fig. 5 showing the parts of the circuit forming mechanism in neutral or inoperative position.y Fig. 8 is a similar view showingv the mechanism in position to form a circuit to operate the alarm signal.. Fig. 0 is a sectional View as seen on line 9 5) of Fig. (3, showing the mechanism for controlling the movement of the tape in neutral or inoperative position, and Fig. l0 is a similar view showing the controlling mechanism in position to cause the tape to wind in one A direction. y

Referring to the drawings, in which similar lreference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a housing which is provided with avhinged section Q whereby the hinged section may be swung to open position for gainingaccess to the interior of the housing, said hinged section having wings 3, which project to a .point adjacent the rear wall of the housing and form part of the side walls thereof.

Mounted within the lower portion of t-he housing 1 is any suitable form of speedometer i, theoperating shaft 5 of which protrudes through the bottom of the housing and in position to be coupled to the usual form of flexible shaft, (not shown) used for operating speedoineteis.

ltotatahly mounted within the housing l are winding shafts il and 7 which shafts have spools S and fl mounted thereon upon ing, the plunger heilig held in engagenieiit with the ends of the shafts by introducing a spiral spring ll around each plunger and between the closed end of the thimlile aud va flange l5 on theplunger, the outer end of each )lune'er havinir a head 1li which mav i he grasped for drawing the. pliingers o'utwardly to diseugage the pointed ends thereof4 from the shafts so that. the shafts and spoolsearried thereby may be readily removed or reiiiseited to position.

The shaftsG and 7 and spools 8 and 9 thereon are rotated intimed relation with the speedometer by extending one Vof the shafts 17 of the. speiulometer in position for rausiug the worm 1S carried thereby to engage. a. gear '19 on.. a. shaft. 20, said shaftv 2() having a worin 2l for engagement with a woiiii gear 22, the worm gear 22 being mounted upon a shaft. 23, mounted in a framel 24.

Attached to the. shaft 23 and rotatable therewith is a gear 25 with which meshes a gear 2G mounted upon a shaft 27. said shaft. 27 being likewise, mounted iii the frame 24. Alsofmounted upon the shaft 27 is a gear 28 with which meshes a shitting gear 2f), said gear being tixed to the shaft 30 carried by one of the wings it of the'housiiig 1, said shifting giar 2t). when in mesh with the gear 2Q alsi) beine in mesh with a nfear 3l cart x-i zried by the spool t), thus imparting rotating motion to the spool 9 to wind the tape i() thereon, from the shaft. t7 on tliespeedonieter 4.

ln order to im iart i'otatiiiei motion to the spool 8 to wind the. tape 1() thereon, a shaft; 32 is mounted in the frame 24, on which is mounted a. gear 33. said gear lbeing eoniieeted to the gear 26 by means of an .idler 34 which is positioned.upon a shaft 35 between the gears 26 and 3 3. Cooperating with the gear 33 is a shifting gear 36 which is mounted upon :YL shaft't 37, also carried by one ofthe ingsot' thehousingLsaid gear tt being adapted to mesh with-.a gear :t8 carried hy the spool S and whei'rthe geaiinit is in mesh with the gears 32% and 3S, -tlie spool S will be rotatedto wind the tape thereon.' .i i

The shafts 3() and 37 are longitudinally movable so that the gears 29 and 36 may be aie loiigitudiiiall. movmoved into or out of mesh with the gears 2S and 31,?and 33 and 38 respectively, and in order to move said shafts, a rocking arm 3,9 is pivotally attached at its longitudinal center to a bracket 40, which bracket is in turn secured to the outer face of one of the Wings 3. The ends of the rocking a-rm 39 are preferably bifiireated and engage notches 41 in the outer ends of the shafts so that by swinging the arm on its pivot, one of the shafts will be moved inwardly and the other drawn outwardly.

Any suitable means may be provided for holding the rocking arm in its adjusted posi tion, but in thepresent instance. a yielding knob 42 is attached to the. rocking arm 89.', said knob having a pin 43 which is adapted to engage notches 44 in the edge of the bracket 40, one notch being so positioned that when the pin is engaged therewith the rocking arm will move both of the shafts to `nelitral position, while by engaging the pin with one of thenotches on opposite sides of the center notch, one of the, shifting gears will be held in engagement with its coperating gears and the other shifting gear out of engagement. with its cooperating gears.

lVhen the. rocking arm 39 is swung to the position shown in Fig. l0, the gear 36 is in mesh with the gears 33 and 38, thereby imparting winding motion to the shaft (S and spool 8. while the gear 29 will be out of mesh with the gears 28 and 31, thus leaving the spool 9 free to unwind by the pull of the -tape thereon. The tape, when wound upon the .spooly 8, travels upwardly and partsv thereof are exposed through an opening or visual space 45 'in the fiont of the housing' l, and as the route directions are given at one side of thetape for traveling in one dt rection. and on the oppositev side of the tape for'travcling inthe return direction, and as' the tape is moving upwardly while beings wound on the spool 8, the directions on the.D tape are to be read gat the top edge of the opening-45, but on the'return trip, owing to the fact thatthe. tape is moving downwardly and being wound on the spool 9, the directions arel to be read at the lower edge'of the opening 45.. i I.

The tape. l() mayv have any form of printed instructions thereon, such as stations, turns,

cross-roads. bridges. railroad crossings, vil^ lages, hotels, garages, or in fact any instructions whieh are essentialiii touring over a road. and in order to obviate the necessity of tle driver or operator .continually watching the tape to keep advised when approaching certain points, especiallydanger points, an -alarin mechanism is provided, which in this v.instance is shown as a bell 46, and in order means is provided for sounding the alarm, comprising a pair of contact plates 47 and 48, which are secured tothe inner face of the front wall of the housing 1 and insulated therefrom, with which coperate contact forming rollers 49 and 50 respectively. The contact rollers 49 and 50 are carried by a swinging bar 51 which is pivoted to av bracket 52 within the hinged portion of the housing 1 so that when one of the contact rollers is in position to engage its particular Contact point the other roller will be moved away from its contact.

The tape 10 passes betweenv the contact plates and the contact rollers, and normally breaks the circuit between the contact plates and rollers, but at the point where it is desired to sound an alarm an opening 53 is formed through the tape, thus permitting the rollers to engage with the contact plates when the opening 53 is brought int-o registration with the contact plates and rollers. There can be any number of the openings 53 and they are preferably positioned along the edges of the ta e and are so arranged that an alarm will sounded at least one-eighth of a. mile before the danger point is reached, thus giving ample notice to the driver that he is approaching a point which requires special attention, and by glancing at the tape he can readily ascertain what is to be expected.

The bar 51 is rocked on its pivot to move one or the other of the contact rollers in .position to engage its respective vcontact. plate through the medium of a lever 54 which is pivoted adjacent its longitudinal center to one of the wings 3, the upper end of the lever being attached to oneend of the bar 51 by a link 55, while the opposite end of thelever is provided with an elongated slot 56 which engages a pin 57 projecting inwardly .from the rocking arm 39, so that when the rocking arm 39 is operated to niove one olrthe other of the shiftingr gears into operative position, the bar 5l will he likewise rocked to bring the properV contact roller into position to engage its cooperative contact plate and as shown in Fig. 8, the 'roller 50 is moved into position to engage with contact plate 4S, the position of these parts corresponding to the position of the parts shown in Fig. 10.Y

When it. is desired to change the tape,` as when the machine Ais traveling over a different rollte. the hinged section 2 is swung downwardly to the position shown in F il.

and the plungers 12 drawn outwardly until the shafts 6 and 7 are released, when the spools and tape thereon are removed from Athe housing and the tape registering a different route placed in position to engage with the tapered studs and plungers carried by the housing.

This device can be very easily installed ,a minimum,

`saidspools, and a winding the tape and instructions for traveling in the opposite direction, or for the return trip on the oppositeside of the tape, a routing of considerable distance may be made withoutemploying a large amount of tape, the length of the tape also being, kept at by arranging the tape so that it will travel a distance of one inch, while the machine is traveling one mile( This device is designed for use primarilywith motor propelled vehicles such as automobiles, although it will be clearly understood'that it can be applied to use in connection with any form of vehicle, motor boat, flying machine, railroad trains, street cars, or in fact any conveyance which may be used for travel from place to place over a prescribed route.

It will.likewise be understood that instead of operating the 'tape winding gears from a speedometer lthat any suitable device which will operate the tape in timed relation with the speed of the travel of the' vehicle may be used, as many structuresmay be provided which will accomplishthe desired result. It will further be understood that when the indicator is-used in connec? tion with railway 'trains, interurbans or 100 street cars, that the alarm can be so arraned as to' sound a predetermined distance le fore the next succeeding street is reached and coincident to the sounding of the alarm the name of the cross-street, station or stop heilig approached will be brought into registration with the opening in the housing of the indicator.

The invention claimed is 1. In a. route indicator, the combination witha pair of spools, a gear on each spool, and a tape adapted to be wound upon one or the other of said spools, of al shifting gear slidable in a horizontal plane axiallyY of said spools adapted to cooperate with each gear of the spools, a means to simultaneously operate said shifting gears l,to move one toward its coperating gear and the other away from its coiiperating gear, and a common driving means for both of the shifting gears.

2. In a route indicator, the combination with a pair of spools.' a tape connected to gear carried by each spool, of a shift-ing rgear horizontally slidable axially of said spools for coperation with each winding gear, a driving gear for each shifting gear, a 'common means for driving the last gears, and means-to simultancously operate the shifting gears whereby driving gear coperating with each one of the shifting gears will be moved into mesh. with and between its respective winding gear and driving gear, and the other shifting gear moved out of mesh with its respective winding gear and driving gear.

3. In a route indicator, the combination with a pair of spools, a tape cooperating therewith, and winding gears attachedto said spools, of a pair of slidably mounted shifting gears for coperation with the winding gears, a train of gears, means to drive the train 'of gears in one direction, and means to slide said shifting'gears inwardly er outwardly in alinement with the axes ot said spools where-by the movement of the tape ma7 be reversed without changing the direction of rotation of the train of gears.

4. In a route indicator', the combination with a pair of spools, a winding gear on each Spool and a tape cooperating with said spools,- of a slida-bly mounted shitting gear for cooperation with each winding gear, a shifting gear, a common means for driving both of the driving gears, and a pivotally mounted rocking lever between said shifting gears and connected therewith, whereby both of said shifting gears may be moved out of engagement with their respective driving gears and winding gears, or one of the shifting gears positionedbetween and in en gagement with its respective winding gear and driving gear, and the other shifting gear moved from between and out of engagement with its respective Winding gear and driving gear. l

5. In a route indicator, a housing having a hinged section, a. pair of shafts pivotally and removably attached to and supported solely by said hinged section, spools carried by said shafts, a tape adapted Ato wind on said spools, and means 'forrotating said spools, said shafts, spools and tape' being bodily movable 'with said hinged Isection.-

G. -In a route indicator, the combination with a movable tape having perforations along each edge thereof, vof a stationary contact point at one side of said tape, movable contact points' at lthe opposite side thereof and in alinement with said'openings, and means to rock said movable contact. points whereby the movable 'contact at one edge ot' the tape may be moved into ol'ierative position and the contact at the other edge of the tape removed from operative position.

7. In a' route indicator, the combination with a movable tape having perforatimls adjacenteach edge. thereof, spools carrying said tape, Agears onY said spools, shifting gears cooperating with-the rst gears, and means to operate vthe shifting gears to reverse the rotationof lthe tape, of a stationary contact on one side of the tape, movable contacts on the opposite side ol: the tape adapted to register with the openings in the tape to form a circuit, and means operable by the gear shifting mechanism to move one 0f said movable contacts into operative position and the other contact out of operative. position.

8.In a route indicator for vehicles, the combination with a tape having directions thereon in duplicate columns and in reverse order, means to move said tape lengthwise, and means to reverse the movement of said tape, of an alarm mechanism, contact formA ing means coperating with said tape, and means for shifting-said contact, mechanism coincident to the changing of the direction of travel of the tape.

9. In a route indicator, the combination with a pair of spools, a gear on each spool, and a tape adapted to be wound upon one or the other ot' said spools, of a driving gear spaced a distance from each gear on the spools and in vertical alinement therewith, a shift gear horizontally slidable axially of the spool adapted to pass between the driving gear and spool gear, and means for simultaneously moving said shifting gears in opposite directions, whereby one of theI shifting gears will be moved between and in mesh with its respective driving gear and spoolgear and the other shift gear from between and out of mesh with its respective, driving gear and spool gear.

10. In a route indicator, the combination with a pair of spools, a gear atv one end ot each spool, and a tape adapted to be wound upon one or the other of said spools, of a shifting gear for cach spool, a horizontally slidable. shaft to which each shifting gear is attached, a driving gear below and in alinement with each spool gear and a horizontally slidable rocking lever attached to said shafts adapted to move one of the shafts and shifting gear thereon tol position between one of the driving gears` and'its eoopcrating spool gear, and the other shifting gear out of position between its respective driving gear and spool gear when said lever is rocked on .its pivot whereby the action of the tape will be changed.

11. A route indicator, including a. housing, a pair of rotatable spools in said housing, a tape adapted to be wound on one or the other of said spools, a gear at one end of-each Ispool, a driving gear in line with and a distance below the spool gears, a pair of shafts slidalily mountedbetween the driving gears and the spool gears and projecting through one wall of the housing, a shiftinggear fastened to each shaft, va rocking level' pivotally attached to the outer face of the housingadapted to engage the projectingends 'of said shafts to move the gears into or out ot' mesh with the driving gears Aand spool .gears whenv said lever is rocked upon itsl pivot.

on said hinged portion, a pairv offshafts pivoted to and between said Wings and carried inwziifdiy and outwardly with said hinged portlon when the hinged portion is moved to closed o open position, spools carried by seid shafts, a tape adapted to Wind on said spools, and means forfromting sind shafts and spools.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

WILLIAM F. BRIEN. vMARVIN H.WHI'ITAKER. 

